Don't believe the hype...
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2/23/2016
I made the mistake of taking a chance on Denver and it didn't work out. The huge influx of weed enthusiasts is obviously one of the reasons even locals are beginning to dislike Denver, since it's caused a jump in expenses and BAD traffic that's on par with much bigger cities. Several of the friends I made who were born in and around Denver expressed to me that they couldn't wait to get out for these reasons, the biggest one is that it's unaffordable and you don't get enough for what you pay for. Denver has decent parks and recreation but it is nothing amazing, there are limited places to walk and run downtown which is ironic since the city's only real cultural identity lies in its love of fitness. Expect to drive up to the mountains in Boulder etc. to really take in the nature Denver is acclaimed for. While the mountains are great, I feel like that's about all you get in terms of awesome attractions in Denver. As I mentioned it does not have a strong cultural identity, the arts scene is lacking. I have two friends who are artists and lived in Denver and both agree with this, and that's why they also left. Denver is acclaimed for being youthful and fun, and this can project the false image that it's great for hip, modern types. But, if you're not into fitness, juicing and doing yoga at Red Rocks then don't bother coming. I felt that the city's atmosphere overall was very drab, dull and depressing, and I didn't even live in a bad neighborhood [it was Capitol Hill]. Maybe the issues with sprawl and the ugliness of surrounding areas like Aurora made me feel this way. The areas surrounding the 16th st. Mall are okay, but the rest of the city is run down and junky, except for a few well preserved old mansions. The central road, Colfax, is littered with old, run down motels from the 70s and it just looks terrible. Crime along with homelessness is becoming an issue in Denver as well, and there is gang activity that is usually clustered around bad areas surrounding Colfax. Unfortunately, affordable housing downtown Denver is short of impossible which is why some of my friends lived closer to the suburbs, but going to visit them made me feel creepy every time due to the nasty surroundings. The weather is disastrous and the air quality is pretty poor, so don't be fooled by the notion of having crisp mountain air. Also, expect extensive hail damage to your car the longer you live here. I already have about 500 dollars worth in hail damage for living there less than a year, and this is a common complaint for pretty much everyone who lives here, so if you move here get garage parking or a house with a garage. This is the trade off for sunny, humidity-free summers you get in the mountains. Overall, I am glad I moved. It was not for me.
Alexa | Downingtown, PA